The Research Of Mast Cells' Function In Pterygium And The Relationship Between Cell Proliferation/Apoptosis And Pterygium Recurrence

Aims: The present study was to investigate mast cells' function in pterygium and the relationship between cell proliferation/ apoptosis and pterygium recurrence.Methods: Fifty-two pterygia and forty-four normal conjunctiva samples were obtained.Immunohistochemistry and dual-immunofluorescence methods were used to see the location of mast cells and microvessels.To prove that mast cells have function of secreting VEGF,we used dual-immunofluorescence,toluidine blue stain,and immunohistochemisty study.Forty-two primary pterygia and thirty-five recurrent samples were collected.Immunohistochemistry method was used to detect the differences in newborn blood vessels and cell proliferation / apoptosis in that two tissues.Results: Mast cells are located near the microvessels.The numbers of mast cells in pterygia(10.8±2.7)were significantly higher as compared to those in conjunctiva(4.7±2.4,p<0.01).The numbers of microvessels in pterygia(20.7±5.4)were also significantly higher than those in conjunctiva(9.3±2.9,p<0.01).There was association between mast cell count and microvessel density in pterygia(r=0.77,p<0.001).The cells were positive for toluidine blue staining could express VEGF through a serial sections stain.Dual-immunofluorescence showed that VEGF and MCT were expressed in the same cell.The positive rate of PCNA and Ki-67-positive cells were significantly higher in recurrent pterygium tissue compared with primary pterygium tissue;There were no difference with the expression of Bax / Bcl-2 / m P53 / surviving in primary and recurrent pterygium tissues;The number of microvessels in recurrent pterygia(23.40 ± 3.94)was significantly higher than that of primary pterygia(20.29 ± 4.37,p <0.01).The number of new blood vessels and Ki-67-positive cells was positively correlated(r = 0.543,p <0.001).Conclusion: Mast cells have a function in the vascularization of pterygia through the secretion of VEGF.Neovascularization correlated with cell proliferation and cell proliferation can promote recurrence of pterygia.